British PM's visit to China yields fruitful results: FM spokesman

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official visit to China has yielded fruitful results for both sides, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Asked to comment on the significance of the visit and expectations for the future development of bilateral relations, Guo said Starmer's official visit from Wednesday to Saturday marks the first trip by a British prime minister to China in eight years, adding that the PM is also the first leader of a permanent member of the UN Security Council that China has received this year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Starmer on Thursday, with both sides agreeing that they should develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership, translate the promising potential of cooperation into remarkable accomplishments, and open up new vistas for China-UK relations, Guo said, adding that Starmer also engaged in discussions with other senior Chinese leaders on advancing practical cooperation across various fields and resuming exchanges between legislative bodies.

"Both sides agreed to establish the high-level China-UK climate and nature partnership, resume the high-level China-UK security dialogue, and hold a new round of institutional dialogues within this year, such as the China-UK strategic dialogue and economic and financial dialogue, and the meeting of the China-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission. China will cut tariffs on U.K. whisky from 10 percent to five percent. Both sides agreed that it’s important to have closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges and facilitate cross-border travel to deepen understanding and enhance mutual trust. Both sides agreed in principle to resume normal exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries. The Chinese side welcomes UK parliamentarians to visit China more if they so desire and will give positive consideration to visa-free access for UK travelers," said the spokesman.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Starmer witnessed the signing of 12 intergovernmental cooperation documents covering economy and trade, agriculture and food, media, education, and market regulation, and attended the 2026 UK-China Business Council meeting, Guo said.

Both sides welcomed the establishment of the China-UK financial working group and the holding of its inaugural meeting, and will also jointly host the China-UK Insurance Forum, Guo added.

"Notably, Prime Minister Keir Starmer led a delegation of around 60 important representatives from British business and cultural organizations. The Chinese government is committed to providing a sound environment for UK and other foreign companies to invest in China. China also hopes that the UK will provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies. We noted that a good number of UK people said online that China is a trustworthy friend and partner. Through the visit, China stands ready to work with the UK to implement the important common understandings between the two leaders, see history from a broader perspective, rise above differences, respect each other, jointly develop a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the UK for the good of both peoples and the whole world," said Guo.

British PM's visit to China yields fruitful results: FM spokesman

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Thursday slammed U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order threatening tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba, calling it a "brutal act of aggression".

"We denounce to the world this brutal act of aggression against Cuba and its people, who for more than 65 years have been subjected to the longest and cruelest economic blockade ever imposed on an entire nation and who are now guaranteed to be subjected to extreme living conditions," the foreign minister said on social media.

Rodriguez condemned the new escalation by the U.S. against Cuba, saying it relies on a long list of lies that seek to portray Cuba as a so-called "threat", so as to impose a total blockade on fuel supplies to Cuba.

However, facts demonstrate that the United States is the real threat to regional peace, security, and stability, and its actions constitute aggression against the peoples of the Americas, said the foreign minister.

Rodriguez criticized the United States for resorting to extortion and coercion in an attempt to force other countries to join its comprehensive blockade against Cuba, even threatening to impose tariffs on non-compliant nations.

He asserted that such actions gravely violate the principles of free trade.

Trump on Thursday signed the executive order, which says "Beginning on the effective date of this order, an additional ad valorem rate of duty may be imposed on goods imported into the United States that are products of any other country that directly or indirectly sells or otherwise provides any oil to Cuba".

The order, effective at 12:01 ET (0501 GMT) on Friday, defines "oil" as crude oil or petroleum products. It authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to determine whether a foreign country sells or provides oil to Cuba, and to issue necessary regulations to enforce the order.

Cuba slams Trump's threats against oil sellers as "brutal act of aggression"